Gone to pot: Weed smoking rises among US middle aged, seniors as teen use declines

http://www.rt.com/viral/358249-marijuana-weed-parents-teens/
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Parents in the United States are now more likely to regularly smoke weed than their teenage children in an ironic role reversal, according to a National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

The data, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, covers the period from 2002 up to 2014 and notes while the prevalence of marijuana use increased during that time for those aged over 18, it did not for those aged between 12 and 17.

Just 7.4 percent of Americans aged 12 to 17 years old smoked marijuana regularly in 2014, a 10 percent fall from the 2002 figure.

Eight percent of 35- to 44-year-olds on the other hand smoked weed regularly in the same year, outdoing the youngsters for the first time in the 12-year period.

The study also found that marijuana dependence and abuse decreased in the younger demographics but not among those over 26.

It’s not just those in the onset of early middle age who are embracing their hippy weed smoking side, however. All of the older age groups have seen massive jumps in cannabis use.

Those aged between 55 and 64 saw the biggest spike in past-month marijuana use at 455 percent, followed by the over 65s at 333 percent while the 45-to-54-years age category saw a 50 percent increase.

“Older groups had a significant increase of marijuana use in the past month," Alejandro Azofeifa, one of the report authors told The Washington Post.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the perceived parental disapproval of trying marijuana once or twice or once a month or more also fell among 12 to 17-year-olds.

It’s estimated an average of 7,000 people took to pot for the first time every day during 2013, based on the figure that a total of two and a half million people had used marijuana for the first time that year.

The report notes that the fact that marijuana use is becoming more commonplace may account for the substantial increase in those aged over 18 and recognises the need for more research on this.

25 states currently have laws legalizing marijuana in some form. Recreational and medicinal marijuana is legal in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington.

I find this VERY difficult to believe.

Unless it is because, middle age people & older can not afford healthcare, or premiums or co-pays... so they smoke.

Or it is slanted as a push for legalization

Teenagers well, pot is NOT enough... synthetic pot is really epidemic, with the deaths, suicides, & hospitalizations, that is for sure. And of course heroin etc.

I don't, and won't smoke pot, or use any other "drug".

So.... I had ulterior motives, when I signed a petition
for the legalization of marijuana...

I'm hoping the potheads get the munchies,
and eat all the tweekers.

I'm hoping the potheads get the munchies,
and eat all the tweekers


Where do I sign ?

Ok, not gonna lie, that was funny!

Except the tweekers would kill all the pot heads out of paranoia I wld think....either way, win win.

I smoked that in my early 20s during university life

Just want to say....tweekers taste horrible. You start to cook them and all those meth chemicals start oozing out.

I personally would guess that if this is true (survey based stuff is always suspect), that the reason for it is less a matter of people reasoning things out like that, and more likely just the usual way people behave.

That is, people who are now middle aged, grew up in the era of sneaking marijuana. Most of them tried it and gave it up. Others never tried it, and always wondered.

So now that it is coming closer to being legalized, some of the people who stopped before, are trying it again, as a sort of reminiscence. And some who never did, are trying it because the threat of having their lives legally destroyed has fallen off a bit.

The younger set hasn't been as affected, because they are still IN the stage where whatever their usage is, is based around current laws and availability. Maybe the legalization makes it less appealing, too.

My main point is, I rarely see that much thought going in to why people do or don't do stuff like this. If there were, the use of all intoxicants should have dropped to near zero a long time ago.

funny... my 74 year old mother wants to go to Colorado and try some weed...

Oy Vey

I believe it, lol. All those aches and pains. It doesn't mean they are smoking it. They could be using a cannabis rub on for muscle aches. They are actually having amazing results amongst doctors able to prescribe it's usage.

I know cannabis oil is on the rise for medical

Isn't Mother Nature amazing!?

thats not a joint... THIS is a joint!..

You mean a Marley.